Spending more social time online can result in less in-person social time. After all, there are only so many hours in the day.

Social media have certainly expanded the absolute number of human social interactions. A qualitative look at how we use these media to interact with others, however, sheds light on a somewhat ironic result: social media can actually enhance physical isolation, loneliness and detachment from others.

Socially Prolific, but Physically Isolated. While our social interactions on an binary scale have absolutely increased, being increasingly ‘jacked in’ has also resulted in a larger proportion of our ‘social’ lives being spent in physical isolation. Though we can share our lives through social media with people in-person, actually using the media is necessarily a personal, solitary experience. Our immediate interaction is with devices — our computers, smart phones and tablets — not people. Whether more prolific but less physical social relationships are preferable to the less frequent physical intimacy of yesteryear is a big conversation best saved for another day.

The social time we spend online can cause detachment from in-person relationships.

Detachment from Others. As traditionally physical interactions are increasingly superseded by virtual counterparts, the decline of our physical interactions with others has real impacts on how we relate to others. As mentioned in a previous blog entry, the interesting (though unethical) research of Harry Harlow with rhesus monkeys indicated a primal longing and need for physical contact with others. Long periods of time without physical social contact result in further withdrawal from society, a self-perpetuating cycle of loneliness. And loneliness, as you’ll soon read, can be both enhanced and spread through social media.

Social media can act as a more efficient platform for spreading the contagious effects of loneliness.

A Platform for Loneliness. Recent findings by professors at Harvard, UChicago and UCSD discovered that loneliness, like a cold, can be contagious among social networks. Involving roughly12,000 people over 60 years, the study concluded that lonely people are highly likely to share their loneliness with others, extending up to three degrees of separation (One lonely friend makes one 40 to 65 percent more likely to be lonely, a lonely friend-of-a-friend makes one 14 to 36 percent more likely, and a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend makes one 6 to 26 percent more likely, the study suggests). Says UChicago’s John Cacioppo:

“These reinforcing effects mean that our social fabric can fray at the edges, like a yarn that comes loose at the end of a crocheted sweater.”

Social media amplifies and exacerbates the spread of loneliness, providing a more efficient platform for lonely people to share their loneliness with others. Not only that — increased use of social media both increases physical isolation (see above) and provides a disheartening view into more popular people’s lives.

Social Media Success, Where In-Person Largely Fails

Social media isn’t all bad, though (duh). In fact, it produces some great results where in-person interactions often flounder. Harvard Business School professor Mikolaj Jan Piskorski astutely observes:

“Online social networks are most useful when they address real failures in the operation of offline networks.”

Among the biggest failures of in-person interaction that social media addresses are keeping up-to-date and in-touch with friends and acquaintances outside our most immediate social periphery, establishing new relationships (both professionally and personally. Interestingly, online social networks may soon become the No.1 way Americans find significant others, some experts suggest), and facilitating a passive job search. And, needless to say, it allows us to satiate our voyeuristic desires to peer into others’ lives and points-of-view, even as people are increasingly pushing their privacy thresholds back against social media’s push forward. Piskorski confirms:

“People just love to look at pictures. That’s the killer app of all online social networks. Seventy percent of all actions are related to viewing pictures or viewing other people’s profiles.”

In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts on both that subject and the one in this post in the comments section below! Thanks for continuing to follow the blog, and apologies for not writing more. Rest assured, though, I’ve been keeping up with at least some social media, and there’ll be more to come on the blog soon!

21 Comments

Keeley

Wow! What a great post.You've done a nice job summarizing some of the best thinkers on this topic. My opinion: like any other indulgence or good, moderate use tempers any dangers of misuse. Any social media use should be complemented by deep relationships in a community. The balance of these two is a delicate task. I think one way to ensure your own personal happiness is to recognize the ultimate end of social media: to lead you to deeper friendships and human connection, not less. If one is not seeing this fruit from usage it might be time to back off. Otherwise, go for it!

To your specific point: I wholeheartedly agree with you, and I think most people are on the same page. But, I think it's important to explore extreme cases in-depth; these provide the best insights, I think, into the actual impacts of these behavioral patterns on a micro-level (which can then be abstracted to a broader level).

I think, too, that future generations will experience and even stronger swing into social (and other types, for that matter) media consumption, especially given the rapid development of mobile technology. Beyond that, it'd be interesting to see what consumption patterns are like for different demographics. I imagine that that this post is perhaps even more relevant to the retired elderly, for instance, who have even more time on their hands than Millennials.

Thanks again, Keeley, for the thoughtful post, and I hope you continue following the blog!

Adam Lesnikowski

Really nice article, Steve, I could not agree more. Of course we know the good the internet brings, it is important to keep in mind the bad as well. As a fellow philosophy student I can't help recommending Hubert Dreyfus's On the Internet in the "philosophy of the internet" genre.

Thanks for following the blog, Adam, and for the kind words! I'll definitely check out the Hubert Dreyfus stuff. If you have any other recommendations, I'd love to hear them! Also, if you have any PDFs you could forward, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again, Adam, and I hope that you continue following and sharing your thoughts! Hope all's well post-Harvard!

Marc L.

I was thinking about this very thing when I was having dinner with some friends. Out of 5 people 3 were frequently checking their Iphone's for updates, app's and you name it....so much for physical interaction in person.

Z

I feel like you could probably teach a class on how to make a great blog. This is fantastic! I have to say, what really got me was your design. You certainly know how to make your blog more than just a rant about an issue. Youve made it possible for people to connect. Good for you, because not that many people know what theyre doing.